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A cloud seemed to come over her face, all humor gone. ‘So, I should just run away?’
‘You should try and avoid face-to-face combat if you can. But if you can’t, channeling fight strategies from movies is not going to help you.’
He placed his hands on her shoulders so she stood front on. ‘The trick is in subterfuge. You need to look harmless. Move your left foot forward a little, so you are balanced. Now raise your hands, palms out at shoulder level.’
Sarah did as he asked. ‘I feel like I’m surrendering.’
‘That’s what you’re supposed to look like.’
‘Why?’
‘In the first instance, it might make an attacker back off. But if he doesn’t, you are in the best position to strike.’
As he spoke, he pulled her right palm forward, touching it to his outstretched arm as if it held a gun that could be knocked away. Then he bent her elbow and brought it to his temple.
‘Hard surface to soft surface, okay?’
She nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration.
He moved her hand around to the back of his head, curling his fingers around hers so his hair was entwined.
‘Perfect position to kick my shin.’ He tapped her right foot with his own. ‘Meanwhile, never look away. You want to read his tells.’
‘Tells?’
‘Tensing his shoulders or shifting his weight as if he’s getting ready to strike out. You need to practice a balanced stance and not give away your own tells. Don’t think, just do.’
‘Easier said than done.’
‘Easier done with practice. Watch for a narrowing of the eyes, a fist pulling back. If it looks like he’s about to hit you, hit him first.’
Alex started demonstrating the tells in slow motion, encouraging Sarah to react faster and with precision.
‘Don’t make a fist, you’ll only break your hand. Elbow, or palm if you must.’ He reminded her as she feigned a punch. ‘If he hits you, it’s gonna hurt like hell, throw you off your balance. You need to get in first. Avoid any strike he tries to make.’
He went to take a swing at her, freezing in place. She ducked under his arm.
‘Good. Move behind me and hit me hard in the kidneys.’
‘Here?’
She rested her palm against the left-hand side of his lower back.
‘That’s right. If you can reach the neck or head, you can hit there too.’
‘Using my elbow or palm.’
‘Exactly.’
‘Then what?’
‘If you can get him off-balance, run away. Know your exits.’
‘What if I can’t run away?’
‘Get in close and keep fighting. Don’t give him a chance to regain his composure. Hit, kick, bite, scratch. Use what’s in the surroundings. A metal pipe, a brick.’
‘Captain America’s shield?’ She gave him a wink.
